Alastair Cook says "rest and rotation" are key to England's hopes of
success in the one-day series in India and for a busy year of action ahead.

England can take a 2-0 lead in the five-day series with victory over India in tomorrow's match, after winning Friday's opener, despite the current squad short of experience.

Anchor man Jonathan Trott, opening bowler James Anderson and first-choice spinner Graeme Swann have all been excused the five-match series but Cook believes it is vital the workloads are managed.

"Careers are short but rest and rotation is going to be an important part of the side moving forward," he said.

"Luckily we are building a squad of players. We've got young lads here who have been in the international side for six to eight months and they are gaining experience, and hopefully showing if they get their chance they can take it.

"Rest and rotation is important and to me it is on a tour by tour, week by week basis.

"As players and even coaches we are going to have to assess the situation, week by week, month by month. You can't really plan too far ahead because things change due to injury or form or whatever."

Cook's reference to 'resting' coaches is a nod to the decision to appoint Ashley Giles as the side's limited-overs coach, easing the strain of team director Andy Flower, who continues to lead the Test XI.

Before being named skipper of the 50-over side, Cook suffered from something Tim Bresnan describes as "natural rotation" in one-day cricket, having been overlooked for tactical reasons.

Despite excelling since his return he remains unpicked in Twenty20, something which perhaps explains his own eagerness to avoid being rotated out of the side's he currently leads.

"I want to play as much cricket as I can for England," he said. "I'm just happy that I am getting selected to play.

"There was a time when I wasn't playing any one-day cricket at all. At the moment I am feeling fresh and excited by the challenges ahead."